1 found dead in unusual fire. Arson investigators, detectives working to determine cause

One person was found dead Wednesday after one of two fires that occurred simultaneously in a detached Lexington garage and house, fire officials said.

The person was found dead in the garage when firefighters responded to the fire about 2 p.m. Wednesday in the 200 block of Radcliffe Road, which is off Russell Cave Road on the city’s north side, Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn said. Investigators will determine if arson was involved.

The name of the deceased has not been released pending notification of family, Ginn said. The person’s exact cause of death has not yet been determined.

Firefighters found the fire in the house after putting out the fire in the detached garage, fire Battalion Chief Marc Bramlage said.

“We had multiple points of origin,” Bramlage said.

Arson investigators, the coroner’s office and Lexington police robbery/homicide detectives worked at the scene to determine the cause and circumstances surrounding the fires.

Neighbor Nekiter Chenault said she believes a couple of young men live at the house where the fire occurred.

Chenault said she was in her house when she smelled something strange. When she walked outside, she saw smoke.

“I heard them trying to beat the door down, and I was like, ‘I pray that nobody is in there,’” Chenault said. “Then I seen them bring stuff out on fire ... I knew it had to be something real serious.”

Lexington police taped off an area surrounding the house and asked people to stay back. A portion of the road was shut down for several hours as investigators processed the scene.

This story was originally published January 16, 2019 at 2:56 PM.